on your own. How do you occupy yourselves

crafyone - if you're looking to fill some dark grey days at home then you can't do better than family history. I started with one person and now have 12 lever arch files full of fascinating stories. Start by gathering information and making notes, and when you're ready you can write it all up properly. There were some days when I worked from breakfast to 6pm and the day just flew by!

I walked to the shops yesterday. For me these days, a longish walk. Today, too knackered to do anything. Still in dresssing gown,, reading the internet.

And why not?

In a minute I will wash my hair and try to sort out a bad haircut. Then I will read for rest of the day.

Not exactly on my own but might as well be. #manshed #hooray

What's the rush then Bbbface?

*By the time I've had my breakfast, fed the cats, washed their bowls, tidied up, ironed a few bits, perhaps got the washing on, made the bed, maybe baked a cake, looked in at the crime forum----it's lunchtime.*

That is because you have time in your hands. What you have listed there for a busy focussed person would take an hour

Any excuse to lose myself in a book!!! Well my Kindle actually but as long as I can read I am happy. Sadly rarely get time during the day to do so- except in summer when I can lie on a sun bed in garden all afternoon with a good book. That is my special treat!

I am in that situation at the moment DH is in the north of England on business for two days.

Day I: sorted the stock for our little antiques stall, we have just done Peterborough Antiques Fair and all the boxes have to be moved from garage to shed and checked, went into town for a hair appointment, had lunch out while I was there, came home and started planning the essay I am writing for a course I am doing, cleared some routine paperwork before going to bed and reading for a while

Day 2: Went to my class, 45 minute journey there 2 hour class 45 minutes back. Had lunch, moved more stuff up to the shed. In the afternoon dealt with allsorts of odd problems coming in from DH whose work has been delayed a day. 30 minutes trying to get through to Brittany Ferries because we are going to France today and DH will come later separately. BF changed their computer programmes yesterday - and released the new time table. Computer system collapsed and telephone lines choked. In the evening DD came home as she is coming on this tripto France. We sat up far too late, we always do.

I’d you’re on your own, interested to know how often you socialise (in person, rather than phone calls etc).

We have our apart days and together days. My husband plays golf several times a week. On those days I go to the gym or have a swim. I meet up for lunch with a very close friend maybe once or twice a month. I'm happy in my own company, I quite like shopping for food on my own, as per another thread, although equally happy with other half going round the shops for more interesting stuff. I live very near a large town which has all the best shops including a John Lewis. I don't shop the way I used to for clothes, I never thought I'd say this but I find it a lot more boring than now, but I'll have splurges from time to time. I'd rather go for a walk somewhere beautiful than trawl the shops. We have several royal parks on our doorstep as well as the Thames, so there are lovely places to walk. Other than domestic tasks such as shopping and preparing food and tidying up, the latter doesn't take that long since my husband decided to get a cleaner, his choice not mine, although I do appreciate her. I love reading, I'm never, never without a book. Like most people here, I probably spend way too long trawling the internet, it's an amazing tool but a time waster too.

Prepare fruit for breakfast and vegetables for lunch. Go on the laptop - GN and Mumsnet, type up my 'memoirs,' dream of becoming a millionaire, procrastinate - then do a few jobs in the house or garden, drink tea, read, quizzing, take a little exercise - maybe a walk round the block if weather permits, drink tea, sew, watch telly, a bit of daydreaming. Drink more tea. Very rarely bored.

Crafty, thank you for starting this thread (although there are quite a few posts from ladies who have partners). I’m alone and work but am struggling with feeling very lonely since only child went to uni last year.

But there’s plenty of inspiration here! Was it hard to sell your house? I’d like to move, the house is too big for just me and I’d like a fresh start. Daunted by all the junk I’d have to get rid of! Do you have any tips?

We too have a very busy household with multi generational living. Sometimes I sneak off by myself to the beach (summer months) or a shopping mall (winter months) but when the house is empty I love having a proper blitz and a good scrub round. Very therapeutic creating order for a short while.

I don't know, but the time flies !

By the time I've had my breakfast, fed the cats, washed their bowls, tidied up, ironed a few bits, perhaps got the washing on, made the bed, maybe baked a cake, looked in at the crime forum----it's lunchtime.

Check emails, make a phone-call, read the local newspaper, decide what to have for tea, spend a bit of time on here and deal with whatever crops up during the day. Keep up to speed with Birthdays by checking the calendar .

Each day is different so never bored nor do I feel lonely ( I don't have the time to ) Teatime news and another 6 penn'orth of internet, bed around 10.30-11 at the latest.

Nip to local shop in between or full shop at Asda.Feed cats again at teatime. As I said, no two days are the same. I feel as though I'm on the go from morning 'till night.

I don't usually have a day on my own, as my husband is usually about and we often have family and friends passing through! Ours is a very busy household and there are times when I crave solitude.

Things like reading, sewing, catching up with emails is usually done when my husband is about.
However, I love when he plays golf, as I take the opportunity to clear out wardrobes and cupboards, without him moaning about the mess and the extremely large numbers of shoes I have!

Oh, the joy of the house to myself.

I stay in bed later than usual, and read my book.

Then I might knit for a while and now and again look out the window into the garden.

Yesterday, I took the small mountain of pillowcases out of the linen cupboard and matched all the pairs. Very mindful activity! (The odd ones are going to the charity shop).

Sometimes I might go for a little stroll on my high street, 5 minutes away.

I actually like it on a day when I don't have to do much talking so I dodge my neighbours .

I love a day to myself- I don’t get enough of them.
Catch up on emails, read, do family history, rearrange cupboards, cook, sew, catch up on my never ending ‘to do’ list.

The only day I ever get to myself is Saturday, and even then I’ve quite often got visiting family, or minding younger children while older ones go off to sports competitions.

So I clean, wash, iron, try to get everything done before Strictly.

If I had a day off with no demands on my time, I’d read, maybe take myself off to one of the places I never seem to have time to visit, even though they’re close by, I’m also a no daytime television person, so if it was horrible weather, light the fire, and crochet while listening to the radio.

I suppose its rather different being widowed and being alone every day, as you can tell I do have very many crafts so can keep busy but sometimes one day just turns into the next. I walk to the shops and take my bike out but not when the weather is grim

I have been exceedingly busy for well over a year, downsizing stuff, selling and packing up my 4 bed house and moving. I am settled in now, was very busy over the summer, hammer and tongs to get the garden structure into shape. That adrenaline fuelled time finished and I came back down to a life that is slow and I suppose, will be normal for the future

It is me adapting, nice days are relatively easy to fill, gardening, bus trip out, cycle ride etc but grim days are quite hard. Today I am going to a crafting group and will soon start tai chi

It is too tempting for me to sit and browse the internet. I shall have to set myself a project or challenge each day, so I go to bed feeling that the day has been positive

My one time alone is early morning before my husband gets up (he NEVER goes out!).

I first look at Gransnet while the tea is brewing but then I Always attempt a new level on Candycrush - I swear it stimulates my brain!

Then I read or re-read a book until hubby gets up and I can start making a noise.

From the QuoteInvestigator.com

Vicar’s Wife “Now that you can’t get about, and are not able to read, how do you manage to occupy the time?”

Old Man. “Well, ma'am, sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits.“

I read mainly. I watch films or programmes I have recorded. Catch up on emails and any other media Im on. I watch/listen to stories on YouTube. I go out just for a coffee if the house is driving me nuts. Provide care for my grandchild some days, which means I collect them from school. Go to the library and if there is a film on in the cinema that husband does not fancy, I go myself. On the odd occasion I go to a theatre matinee, but really depends whats on. Art galleries and museums I go to, unless it's really awful weather and I can't be bothered going out for a bus. Sometimes I bake or make soup.

I would like to be able to tell you that when it's too wet to go out, I clean and tidy my house, sort my paperwork and banking, mend broken items and do the ironing. In fact I am more likely to noodle around on internet forums, do a bit of baking and eat some of the results, phone friends or family, play the ukulele, and fall asleep in front of Pointless (which I suppose might count as multi-tasking!)

DH works during the afternoon/evening three or four days a week. While he's out I read the news and visit Gransnet. I do watch TV, I like Money for Nothing, and the house hunting shows.
I play solitaire and Scrabble on my tablet, I prefer the puzzle games to any of the others.

I don’t really have days with nothing to do I volunteer three days have lunch or coffee with friends, do my garden, go to the street, go food shopping, go to the allotment, take a walk or cycle ride, walk on the beach
If I did have a day in I d sort a room or cupboard out do a bit of craft or painting play some internet games watch a bit of tV

If I have the time I cook for the freezer, play word games online with my DD, sort out my wardrobes, write emails to friends and play escape games on the computer.

Not often I get a day to myself since OH retired but I sometimes take the opportunity to turn out cupboards while I'm able to spread stuff around without someone needing to do something in the same place!
Trawling the internet, chatting with friends or family online. I also transcribe parish and church records for an online site plus census records for its sister site.
Knitting is another thing that fills some time, plus I always have at least one book on the go.
Catching up on housework and cooking too.